New Democrats already sizing up Denis Coderre’s riding

Liberal MP Denis Coderre’s seat may not be vacant yet but the New Democrats already have their eye on his riding of Bourassa, iPolitics has learned.

Sources within the NDP say Coderre’s personality was one of the reasons the north-end Montreal riding of Bourassa resisted last year’s Orange Wave. Should Coderre announce in coming weeks that he will seek the mayoralty of Montreal, the NDP believes it could wrest Bourassa away from the Liberals.

“I think most people after the last campaign felt that riding likely would have gone over to the NDP if it wasn’t for Denis Coderre,” said one strategist.

He predicted the NDP will attract strong candidates should there be a byelection and that the vote would be “highly competitive.”

“In any other city, it would be a perfect riding for us,” he said, pointing to the riding’s profile.

The NDP ran second in Bourassa in the last election, giving Coderre the closest run he’s had since he became an MP in 1997. While Coderre held onto his riding with 40.9 per cent of the vote, NDP candidate Julie Demers came in second with 32.28 per cent.

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice could barely contain his delight at the prospect of a byelection in Bourassa.

“We have indications that that riding could become free,” said Boulerice, breaking into a grin from ear to ear. “We’re taking care of all of the voters of Quebec and of Canada and we are interested in winning in 308 ridings, including Bourassa.”

Asked if the party already has a candidate, Boulerice said NDP organizers are “doing their work on a regular basis.”

Boulerice said Coderre should clear the air quickly and announce whether or not he will run for the mayoralty.

“It is not appropriate for the taxpayers of Canada to pay for the precampaign of (a possible) candidate for the mayor of Montreal.”

The comments came only a few hours after Coderre announced that he won’t contest the Liberal leadership but is still contemplating a run for the mayoralty of Montreal. Coderre said he definitely will remain an MP until the Liberal leader is chosen in the spring but did not make any commitment beyond that.

A byelection in Bourassa would be the first electoral test in Quebec for the NDP since it swept the province in May 2011, winning the vast majority of the province’s seats, and the first Quebec test for its current leader Thomas Mulcair.

A byelection would also be a test for the next leader of the Liberal Party as well as the Bloc Québécois and its new leader, Daniel Paillé.

On Wednesday, Paillé pointed out the riding of Bourassa is not yet vacant and Coderre is being paid to represent the riding.

“It is a lot of work to be MP of a riding … He is paid for that. The people of Bourassa will watch to see if he continues to do his work and we will as well.”